Abilify + first psychiatrist

[Crystal_Heart]

my family doctor put me on Abilify this week (as add-on therapy for MDD) and i'm starting it tonight. (i've been on Wellbutrin and Effexor for a few years...)
has anyone taken this? does it work? i'm not so sure.

also, i'm in the process of finding a psychiatrist (and it will be my first time seeing one) so they can increase the dosage of my meds (bc my family doctor has reached his dosage limit/allowance for me). also bc my problems are simply beyond my family doctor's expertise. the search is getting very frustrating and the light at the end of the tunnel is quickly dimming.

i'm not really sure about the point of this post but maybe can anyone share their experience of taking Abilify...or of the long search/finally finding a psychiatrist?
i guess i just need some hope. i need encouragement that this will really all work out.

(is this in the correct forum?)

sorry...
and thanks...
<3 Chloe

[Ami]

abilify didnt help with my mood, but with psychotic symptoms to and extent

hope it works x

[Steel Maiden]

(I have paranoid schizophrenia)
I relapsed while on Abilify and had to change back to olanzapine. I got visual disturbances from it and also couldn't sleep.
But I hope it works for you.

[Amaryllis]

I've been on Welbutrin and that was like a miracle drug for me for the most part.

But Abilify was a different animal. I was put on it to help get rid of hallucinations (which were actually a side effect of another drug) and it did absolutely nothing. On the other hand, I didn't get any weird side effects from it either.

[SecretMe]

Ok hun, I have good news and bad news.

Bad news first- I have to add another negative comment on Abilify. It made me sick. I couldn't even take it. The same thing happened to a friend of mine as well. Some people can't tolerate it. On the positive side (if you can call it that) I have heard reports like what everyone else here has said.

Now, on to the good news. Yes, I went through a journey of finding a good psychiatrist. I have one now that I truly trust, have complete faith in, and work well with. (Believe me that is saying a hell of a lot because first of all I have serious trust issues, social phobia, and similar problems, but also I was at a point in my life once where I was totally against meds and hated psychiatrists because I saw two that I didn't like) The psych that I have now I have been with for 8 years.

He is awesome. It makes a huge difference when you have the right person, someone who cares, listens, who you feel comfortable with, and ... it just works.

I wish this for you.

You tell us how everything works out ok?

*hugs*

[Aidee]

I'm on Wellbutrin right now and it's effects are iffy. It definitely takes the edge off my depression, but it does nothing for my over eating urges, and it only barely barely keeps my hallucinations under control. That is taking 300mg at once instead of 150mg twice a day. Unless I take the second dose within about 6 hours of the first it doesn't work, so I usually take them together.

It has given me heart palpitations and fine muscle tremors, which is no good.

I can't post properly right now, but I have had good experiences on Abilify, just thought I'd add that in. Will try to reply later.